Munduk Moding Plantation Hotel Review, Bali

Location: Munduk, Bali
Price: £££
Value for Money: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Perfect for: Stunning mountain views, infinity pools, tranquil escapes

Few tourists leave the popular beachside destinations on their trip Bali, but they are missing out on a whole different side to this island.

Located atop the mountains of Northern Bali, Munduk Moding Plantation is a sustainable eco-luxury resort that boasts some of the best views from an infinity pool that I’ve ever seen.

Founded by a Dutch family, Munduk Moding Plantation was created to protect and showcase the area’s natural beauty sustainably, and they are going from strength to strength.

Location

We drove from Ubud up to Munduk Moding Plantation and were treated to some beautiful views along the way. After passing the tranquil rice fields of Ubud, we started to climb up past 2 stunning lakes in the mountains, through a monkey sanctuary, and past a working coffee plantation where the hotel is located.

This idyllic location means the hotel has swoon-worthy view into the valley and the lakes below, as well as the coastline, and on a clear day, of Java’s volcanoes too.

Only hotel guests are allowed on-site, to avoid the infinity pool getting filled up with influencers. This policy also allows the guests to enjoy the space without interruption.

The hotel is close to the village of Munduk and the property itself encompasses a 12-acre organic coffee plantation where many different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs are also grown.

The drive to Munduk Moding Plantation from the airport is about two and a half hours. Once you are here you won’t need to leave, and actually there isn’t much tourist infrastructure in the area anyways.

Also note that taxi apps such as Grab and Gojek are not permitted here, and the hotel prefers guests to use local drivers booked via the front desk, or your butler, to promote local businesses.

TIP: The hotel is located about 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) above sea level and it can get cold at night, so be sure to pack a sweater. The villas also have fireplaces and you can ask your butler to set this up for you ready for when you arrive from dinner.

Sustainability

Munduk Moding Plantation was founded on an ethos of sustainable eco-tourism and this philosophy still remains. There is an abundance of wildlife and vegetation in the area, which has remained despite the building of the hotel. This includes organic coffee beans, fruits, vegetables, and herbs all of which are thriving here.

The two on-site restaurants also strive to create dishes which use these ingredients, as well as predominantly local produce. This is far from limiting, as they are located in such a lush and fertile location where a lot of produce is grown.

The hotel team also consists of 100 percent Balinese staff, thus providing those in the local area a sustainable source of income.

Design & Character

Munduk Moding Plantation has been designed by well-known Balinese architect Popo Danes, who has created a style which effortlessly messes traditional Balinese style with modern comforts.

The property is made up of various small buildings rather than one mammoth structure, this adds a sense of tranquillity as all the villas are well spaced out.

The main building houses the lobby, and one of the restaurants and this opens out onto the hotel’s spectacular main infinity pool. The views here are superb and extent out over the valley and the distant volcanoes of Java too. On a clear day it would take a lot of surpass views as good as this.

Accommodation

We stayed in the one bedroom pool villa which was absolutely incredible in every way. The villa was located along it’s own mini drive away, which led up to the main living space. This includes a large dining table, couch, fireplace and a small shower room and toilet too.

The living space opened out onto our very own infinity pool with awe-inspiring views of the valley below. There was also an hot tub which we used quite a lot, as it does get cold at night and the hot tub was the perfect temperature.

Our bedroom was located in a separate building past the pool and it included a beautifully designed and large bath, as well as a shower with skylight to view the stars. Our large and comfortable bed was draped with mosquito nets and faced the large windows which offer more expansive views.

The villa had everything we needed for our stay, including a fireplace which our butler prepared in the evening for us, as well as a comfortable couch, sun beds and an outdoor shower.

The dining space was large enough to have room service for dinner and breakfast, which we did do a few times.

We requested a buggy any time we needed to go to the main building, as it would have been quite a walk from our villa. This was easy to do and not an inconvenience at all.

Personal Butler Service

Our villa also included a personal butler, and this is a service which is included with certain villas. Our butlers where Leo and Sugit, both of whom were absolutely great at their jobs. They were friendly, professional and aware of our needs.

We used their services to order afternoon tea and room service, as well as the buggy from our villa to other parts of the hotel. They also set up our fireplace in the evenings, booked and arranged activities for us, and also sorted our hotel transfers for us. It was great to have the personal butler facility and they added a lot of value to our trip.

TIP: Be sure to keep windows and doors closed where possible to keep out the local wildlife, as expected when staying in such a lush location.

Dining

Munduk Moding Plantation has two restaurants, both of which strive to serve dishes composed predominantly of ingredients grown either on-site or in the local area.

Warung Bongkot is the Balinese restaurant that offers North Balinese speciality dishes. We enjoyed a discovery menu here which showcased not just the local dishes, but the local produce too.

Our seven course menu started with a warming minced chicken soup which was bursting with flavour. The sharing main course consisted of Udang Base Bongkot (stir-fried tuna, prawn and squid with ginger paste). Pelecing Papah Keladi (stir-fried taro steam), as well as steamed rice and pork sate and fresh vegetables.

The menu was fresh and delicious, and felt like clean eating rather than over-indulgent dishes. It was evident that the food was made and served with love and pride for local tradition, and it was lovely to talk to the head chef and staff about their culinary culture.

The other restaurant is MiMPi restaurant, which serves a combination of Asian fusion and international dishes, and this is also where breakfast is served. This is a two-storey open space with panoramic views of the main pool and mountains.

Breakfast

Breakfast at Munduk Moding Plantation is a delight. There is the option of Balinese, Indonesian, and Western dishes, and you can mix and match them all if you like.

Dishes include fresh homemade jam, bread basket, yogurt, and eggs and fresh juices, as well as very good coffee, including luwak coffee too!

Indonesian dishes include delicious nasi lemak and nasi goreng too. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian and gluten free dishes too.

Breakfast can be taken either at MiMPi restaurant with gorgeous views of the infinity pool and mountains, or within the comfort of your own villa.

Afternoon Tea

Complimentary afternoon tea and cookies are served each day and you can enjoy this is the restaurant with the beautiful views, or in your villa. You can choose from a variety of drinks, including tea, coffee, juices and smoothies too. I really enjoyed this little treat in the middle of day.

Facilities

The beautiful main infinity pool is the key feature of the hotel, and guests can spend many a lazy afternoon in the sunbeds by the pool admiring the views.

However Munduk Moding Plantation is a nature resort, and offers a wide range of facilities and activities aligned to this. The programme changes daily, and includes, classes such as how to make Balinese offerings, making kites and Balinese dance lessons. There is also a daily plantation tour and coffee processing demonstration too.

Coffee Plantation Tour Munduk Moding Review

We did quite a few activities during our stay and we really enjoyed them. We learnt how to make Balinese offerings and candles from used cooking oil. We also did a Bahasa Indonesia language class and learnt some very useful phrases for the rest of our trip. We took the coffee plantation tour which was very insightful and offered the opportunity to try a few different coffees.

Munduk Moding also offers a variety of tours and transfers outside of the hotel that allow guests to experience the area, which is known for its waterfalls and nearby lakes.

There is also a spa with a range of luxury treatments, as well as a sauna too. In the evenings there is a logfire under the stars and live local music too. This is great to enjoy after dinner whilst gazing at the stars.

TIP: Be sure to book your spot on the activities, or the spa in advance (this can be the same morning) to give the staff time to arrange.

Overall

Munduk Moding Plantation makes it onto my list of favourite hotels in the world. This is because of the beautiful remote location with breath-taking views, the intimate nature of the hotel which allows for personalised services, as well as the delicious food available at both restaurants.

The sustainable nature of the hotel also appeals to me, and Munduk Moding Plantation is an example of eco-luxury done well, as the sustainable side doesn’t take anything away from the luxurious nature of the hotel, instead it adds so much to it.

Munduk Moding Plantation is perfect for those looking for a unique, tranquil getaway amongst unspoilt beauty which doesn’t sacrifice any of the luxury.